Tenth of December

Title: Tenth of December
Author: George Saunders
Genre: Short Stories
Pages: 288
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A collection of short stories, ranging from odd dystopian futuristic worlds to stories of teenagers in suburbia.
Thoughts: This book is really hard to rate.  Some of the stories are worth five stars, and some are only one or two.  As a collection, I have to say that they are brilliant, well-written, and the work of a truly great writer.  But that doesn't mean that I necessarily enjoyed them all.  Many of the stories are dark and morbid, and most do not have much hope in them at all.  But I do feel like I learned something from each one, and there were a few that really hit me hard.  I especially liked the final story, "Tenth of December," from which the book gets its title.  Overall, the book was moving, but is probably not for everyone.  However, if you like modern fiction and think you might be interested, I bet you would love the book.
Disclaimer: There is quite a bit of inappropriate content in this one.  I can't recall exactly which ones were fully clean, but if I were reading it again I would skip "Escape from Spiderhead" for sure.

The Wright Brothers

Title: The Wright Brothers
Author: David McCullough
Genre: History
Pages: 336
Rating (out of 5 stars): *****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: The Wright Brothers get the McCullough treatment, with an in-depth look at their lives and their amazing invention of the world' first flying machine.
Thoughts: This was one of my favorite McCullough books (and I've read a few now).  Thoroughly captivating from start to finish, and with just the right level of detail for my taste.  I especially enjoyed the sections detailing how they performed careful analysis and controlled experiments to arrive at their unique (and, ultimately, correct) solution to the flying problem.  I came away from the book with a great appreciation for their intelligence, bravery, and doggedness in attacking a problem until it was solved.  A really great book.
Disclaimer: None.

The Cay

Title: The Cay
Author: Theodore Taylor
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 144
Rating (out of 5 stars): ***1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: A young boy growing up in the Caribbean becomes stranded on a small island with and old black man and a cat. The Cay is about their struggle for survival and how the boy learns to overcome his prejudice as they work together.
Thoughts: This is a really great book.  My lame description might make it seem like every other don't-be-prejudiced young adult book, but there are a few twists that really make it interesting and worthwhile.  Also, it's super short so it's great for a quick filler when you don't have time for a longer book.  This is definitely one I'll have all of my kids read.
Disclaimer: None.